Abstract

Direct seeding of oak was studied in 25 field experiments established from 1994 to 1998 in Denmark and south-western Sweden. Acorns were seeded at 5 cm depth, with and without small protecting tubes, in experiments with randomized block designs. Some experiments included direct seeding both in autumn and spring. Most experiments were laid out in clearcuts and some were laid out in shelterwoods. The establishment percentages were recorded following the first growing season. The establishment percentages after direct seeding with and without tubes were highly variable and ranged from 0 to 96 per cent and there was no overall effect of the tubes. However, some experiments gave positive tube effects while others showed negative tube effects. Spring seeding and clearcut seeding generally gave better results than autumn seeding and shelterwood seeding. In most cases, sandy soil sites in western Jutland with mainly conifer plantations showed better results than sites with more fertile topsoils in the rest of Denmark and Sweden. It was evident that the experiment location itself had the strongest influence on the establishment percentage, something which most likely could be attributed to variation in rodent populations. There were also clear indications of rodent damage to acorns and tubes in the experiments. In conclusion, direct seeding of oak may potentially become a viable alternative to planting for reforestation in the future. However, the development of methods for protection against rodents is recommended

Published in

Forestry
2005, Volume: 78, number: 1, pages: 55-64
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

SLU Authors

• Löf, Magnus

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpi005

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/7798